PMAGC Community Garden

Presentation to the Paxton Select Board

Nov. 24, 2025

About Us

A club created to promote the love and learning of all things gardening in and around Paxton, MA 01612.

Community Service

Educator Grant

Public Programming

Creating and maintaining the perennial gardens on the Town Common, Senior Center, Public Safety Complex, Klingele Field

Planters at the Records Building (2), Town Hall (2), Klingele Field (5)

Memorial Day boxes at each of the 4 war monuments in town

Yearly Educator Grant is available to organizations in Paxton with educational, conservation, and beautification projects that use horticulture and gardening to engage our youth. Awards of up to $500

2024 RML for “Edible Garden”

2025 Turn Back Time Water Catchment system

Offer free public lectures throughout the year on a variety of horticultural topics.

Some have been recorded and can be found on our website & YouTube Channel

Purpose of the Community Garden

Club’s next big project - multi year

Encourage food growing and community learnings - PCS & Rec could do programs

Gets other organizations involved - Scouts, School, etc.

Utilizes Bay Path

Grow food for town food pantries - COA & Congregational Church

OSRP Survey initial results shows the residents want a community garden: this was ranked as one of the top 3 priorities

Location: Next to the basketball courts at Center Fields

Size: approx. ½ acre

Rough Concept

Mix of inground and raised garden beds

Rain catchment system (rain barrels) as the water source. Could also tap into water onsite with approval

Compost bin

Greenhouse

Pergola w/tables

Shed

sign “Paxton Community Garden created by the Paxton Garden Club” w/list of benefactors on the backside - this would match all other town signs

Rendering via Chat GPT

Structure Inspirations

Structure Inspirations

Our Process Overview

Create dedicated PMAGC Subcommittee to manage construction and completed facility (develop task list, timeline, budget, engineering and secure funding)

Identify Location: Open space to the left of the Basketball Court at Center Fields

Approval from Town Organizations (stakeholders):

1. Assessor's Office - gave full endorsement of project and location options (depending on DPW/Conservation) on 7/22/25
2. Interim Town Administrator - gave full endorsement of project and location options 7/22/25
3. DPW - 7/29/25 Endorses plan 100%
4. PPD/PFD endorsement - fully endorse
5. Open Space & Recreation Committee - gave full endorsement 8/5/25
6. Paxton Recreation - Unanimously approved motion to enter MOU for space to be the Paxton Community Garden 8/6/25 Approved motion for location 9/10/25
7. Paxton Conservation Commission - individual members like the idea 8/21/25
8. Conservation Agent - gave full endorsement of project and location on 7/26/25 & 8/26/25
9. Economic Development Committee (EDC) Chair - gave full endorsement 9/18/25
10. 15 West St. (residential abbutter) - fully endorse and looks forward to being a neighbor 10/17/25
11. PCS STEAM Teacher Thomas Hart - fully endorse and would love to have for his curriculum 11/19/25
12. Select Board final sign off to move forward - we are here
13. Planning Board & Zone Board Appeals (ZBA) - if needed
14. Building and other Inspectors - as needed

Upon approval: create MOU, develop work timeline and apply for funds

FAQs

Why build it? OSRP survey validates a community desire. The benefits of community gardens are numerous.

Who will fund it? PMAGC through fundraising, grants and in-kind donations.

Who can use this? Everyone. We are building this to be fully ADA accessible.

Who will own it? PMAGC will be the official manager/financial steward of the gardens and structures with the Town/Recreation being the landlord/owner.

How running it will work? PMAGC will rent beds seasonally (w/written agreement) for a nominal fee that goes into a dedicated bank account to maintain/care for garden needs. Will also create a use schedule for greenhouse access.

FAQs Continue

What are the Security Plans? PMAGC will install cameras, have signs posted, actively monitor site. Will work with town as needed if issues arise (hopefully not)

What are the Safety Plans? Location is fully accessible to public safety. AED unit is in the area. We will install a first aid kit and work with PFD/PPD on any other suggestions.

What do the neighbors/abutters think? The single residential neighbor fully supports this project.

What is the space used for now? Nothing it’s a vacant open lot that does not have a dedicated function. On 9/10/25, Recreation unanimously approved a motion to grant us this space to create the community garden with all its structures pending Select Board approval.

FAQs Continue

What is the watering source? We will install three 137 gallon rain barrels. Will also have an opportunity to tap into the well Rec is installing in the future.

What kind of gardening practices will we employ? Organic/non pesticide to the best of our abilities.

What will be grown? Fruits & Veggies and summer annuals (Comos, Marigolds, Sunflowers etc).

What will be done with what is grown? Individual rentals will own what is grown. PMAGC Beds will be splits between both food pantries in town. Flowers will be used for Floral Fridays Fundraiser and other programs.

Official Request

1. To enter into a MOU with The Town (Recreation/Select Board) to create a community garden next to the basketball court at Center Fields
2. Permission to:
1. Remove all brush and level the space as needed. We will work with DPW, Recreation and other town agencies accordingly
2. Create a perennial garden along the rocks that borders the parking lot
3. Build a staircase and ADA accessible ramp to get up banking
4. Build over time (1-4 years): raised beds (inground & ADA compliant), rain catchment system (3 137 gal. rain barrels), 14x16’ shed, 18x20’ greenhouse and 14x18’ pergola. We will have to scale drawings & plot plan created by a Quinn Engineering and follow all building/zoning laws as required

THANK YOU!

Thanks for hearing our request tonight.

PMAGC Community Garden Subcommittee: Julie Dubuque, Karen Gearin, Duston Hill, Mary Hollingsworth, Barbara Matheson, John Pender-Cudlip, Joyce Powers, Robin Tasca and Jeff Wentzell (consultant/advocate)

Don’t miss our Indoor Plant Sale Fundraiser Nov. 29-Dec. 21st at Paxton Marketplace.